BAGHDAD — The first round of F-16s has arrived in Iraq, four of them, following a string of delays over security and other concerns.
(Scroll Down For video) — From Fox News: — “The Obama administration said Monday that the first group of Iraqi pilots has been trained.
“After years of preparation & training in the U.S., Iraqi pilots today landed the 1st squadron of Iraqi F16s in #Iraq,” tweeted Brett McGurk, deputy special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter ISIL.
The fighter jets were delivered as part of a foreign military sales contract between the U.S. and Iraq. The delivery comes as, separately, local forces undertake an operation to recapture Fallujah and Ramadi from the Islamic State.
The Iraqis purchased 18 F-16s in 2011 for $3 billion, and another 18 for $830 million two years later, for a total of 36 aircraft.” —
